Crunch clash
Nottingham Forest are facing “the crucial week” in their promotion bid, according to boss Sabri Lamouchi.
Tomorrow the fourth-placed Reds host Leeds United, who are just four points ahead of them, in second spot.
Charlton Athletic are then the visitors to the City Ground on Tuesday night, followed by a trip to face league leaders West Bromwich Albion next Saturday.
A seven-match unbeaten run in the league came to an end last weekend, when Lamouchi’s men were beaten by Birmingham City, while the Whites have picked up one win in their last five Championship games.
Transfer talk
Nottingham Forest ace Matty Cash says he “didn’t want to go anywhere” in January, having been at the centre of plenty of transfer speculation.
The 22-year-old’s sterling form at right-back this season saw him catch the eye of a number of clubs, with several Premier League sides linked, as well as Italian giants AC Milan.
Although admitting such interest was flattering, Cash says there was no question he would remain at the City Ground.
“Obviously I saw everything being talked about everywhere,” he said.
Penalty verdict
Boss Sabri Lamouchi has backed Lewis Grabban to step up and score Nottingham Forest’s next penalty.
The front man saw his effort from the spot saved by Birmingham City goalkeeper Lee Camp last weekend as the Reds fell to a 2-1 defeat.
Forest were 1-0 up at the time, following Tiago Silva’s opener, but the hosts almost immediately went down the other end and equalised, before turning the game around in the second half.
Grabban has netted three penalties already this season, and Lamouchi has full confidence in him should another be awarded against Leeds United at the City Ground this weekend.
Transfer changes
Nottingham Forest could be given an extra month to do their summer transfer business with Championship sides set to debate whether to push the day the transfer window closes back to September 1.
Premier League sides decided yesterday to move the date the transfer window closes back to its original end of August/early September slot.
The transfer window for the past two seasons has closed on the Thursday before the opening games of the Premier League and Championship seasons.
Clubs voted for the change so as to ensure squads were settled for the season and no moves were made after the opening weekend.
